



// 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




013 998 146 7 




Mr. HARmB"JkL^)H\LUAMS 

oF eJSlew <M>rk. 



Copyrighled, iSgi, by 

Hannibal A. Williams, 

98 Lexington Avenue, 

New York. 



Till we have done our conference 

* * Guard our door.' 



/ 



-Jidius Ccesar — Act II', Scene III. 



1^^. "HAJSlHlBflb CI. WmiilAMS, 



OF NEW YORK. 



I have an hour's talk in store for you.'' 



-Julius Ccesa? A ct II , See nc II, 



'\y 



IN A RECITAL OF 



SHAKESPEARE'S HISTORICAL TRAGEDY, 



"JULIUS C^SAR. 






* "The noblest man 
That ever lived in the tide of times. 



-Julius Ccesar — Act III, Sceue I. 



DRAMATIS PERSON.E. 



Julius C^sar, Dictator of Rome. 

OCTAVIUS C^SAK, ) T>i^- t n A . ■ ■ i. r^ , J ^ 

Marcus Antonius ( ' " Relatives ot Lsesar, and triumvirs after Caesar's death. 

Marcus Brutus, ^ 

Cassius, I 

Casca, !...... Conspirators against Julius Caesar. q 

TrEBONIUS, I TTJ o S "^ 

Metellus Cimber, I ^\ ^ 

CINNA, J ^ -^ W ^ 

Flavius, ) ^ ., P\ 3 VV 

Marrullus, I Tribunes. . 1 

A Soothsayer, 

LuciLius, I 

TlTiNius, J- ........ . Friends to Brutus and Cassius. 

Messala, ) 

STRATO, 1 c i. ^ X) i. 

Lucius, I Servants to Brutus. 

Pindarus, Servant to Cassius. 

Calphurnia, Wife to Caesar. 

Portia, ............. Wife to Brutus. 

Scene — Rome, Sardis and Philippi. 

TIME OF ACTION, TWO AND ONE HALF YEARS. 

Note. — On the 13th of February, 44 B. C, occurred the feast of the Lupercal when Antony offered 
Cxsar the crown. On the 15th of the following month, Cssar was slain. Eighteen months later ( November, 
43 B. C.) the triumvirs, Mark Antony, Octavius, Csesar and Lepidus, met on an island near Bologna, and 
prepared the bloody proscription condemning 200 noble Romans to death. In the autumn of the next year the 
battle of Philippi was fought, when both Brutus and Cassius were overthrown and the spoils of war, including 
all the Roman provinces, were divided among the triumvirate. 

— 4 — 



"Are we all ready?" — Julius Ccesar — Act III, Scene I. 
" Bid every noise be still." — Julius Ccesaf Act I, Scene II. 

Synopsis — Act I. — Incitation to Conspiracy. 

A street in Rome. The tribunes, Flavius and Marrullus, disperse a throng of 
citizens assembled to do honor to Caesar. Marrullus charges the Romans with 
fickleness and inconstancy. Flavius counsels them to break off their allegiance 
to Cfesar. Grand square in Rome. The procession of Julius Caesar on its 
way to the sports of the Lupercal — the festival of shepherds. Antony enters 
ready for the course. The soothsayer's prediction. Brutus refuses to witness 
the sports. Cassius charges him with waning confidence and cooling friendship. 
Brutus attributes his apparent estrangement to prolonged meditation on the 
condition of the people and the devising of means for their betterment. Bru- 
tus yields to Cassius' persuasive arguments and flattery, and promises to engage 
in any movement which will conspire toward the general good Cassius' actions 
give cause for Caesar's uneasiness. The incident of Csesar's refusal of the 
crown (after being convinced that he could not accept it without incurring the 
enmity of a majority of the Romans) fully recounted by Casca. Brutus ap- 
points a time for a second meeting with Cassius, who chuckles over the easy 
conquest of Brutus and the prospect of Caesar's speedy downfall. 

"What you have said I will consider." —Julius Ccesat Act I, Scene II. 

— 5 — 



* "Peace, yet again." — Juli'ts Ccesar — A;i I, Scene II. 

Synopsis — Act II. — The Conspiracy. 

Brutus' orchard. Brutus casts about for sufficient reasons to persuade him- 
self to assist in putting Ctesar out of tlie way. (Note. — In desiring to be crowned 
king, Caesar was unjustly accused by his enemies of ambition and a selfish desire 
for power which they thought, if granted, might, and probably would, be used 
for tyrannical purposes; but, as Dictator of Rome, Ctesar already enjoyed and 
humanely exercised the power of a monarch. He was, indeed, king in all but 
the name. He had received from the Senate the title of Impcrator (whence 
comes our word Emperor), for life; he was also declared Dictator, and Prcefectus 
iMoriiin (" perfect of manners,") both offices being perpetual. As Pontifex Max- 
iinus, or high priest, he had control of the religion of the State. To all these 
honors he wished to add the title of king {rex) that he might hand down his 
power and dignities to his successors. Having no children, he adopted his grand- 
nephew, Octavius, as his successor and the inheritor of his name.) Midnight 
meeting of the conspirators. Brutus surprised by his wife. Apartment in Cesar's 
palace. Meeting of Caesar and Calphurnia. Decius prevails upon Caesar to go 
to the capitol. Caesar welcomes the fawning, cringing, dissembling assassins with 
largest hospitality. 

* * " I must pause." * * —Julius CiEsar — Act III, Scene II. 



"Now mark him; he begins again to speak." Julius Ciesai Act III, Scene II. 

Synopsis — Act III. — The Assassination. 

The Roman senate. The senators join in an appeal to Caesar for Publius 
Cimber's pardon. Cccsar constant and consistent. He abides by the decree, 

refusing to recall the Roman exile. (Note This refusal was anticipated and 

served as a signal for Casca to advance from behind, and stab Caesar in the neck, 
after which Ceesar was quickly stabbed by other conspirators ; but the only 
mortal wound he received was from the hand of that misguided and deluded 
patriot, Marcus Brutus, to whom Caesar had been as a father, and who was fif- 
teen years his senior). The people and senators disperse amid the wildest conster- 
nation. Brutus gives audience to Antony who laments the loss of his illustrious 
friend and begs leave to die with him. The subtle and dissembling Antony 
feigns a friendship for the enemies of Caesar. The awful prophecy. Public 
square in Rome. The forum. Brutus' speech of vindication received with 
approbation by the people. The tide of public opinion cleverly turned against 
the conspirators by Mark Antony's consummate adroitness in his incomparable 
oration over Caesar's body. 

"I do entreat no man of you will stir." Julius CiEsai Act III, Scene II. 



" Have patience, gentle friends." * * — Julius Ccesar — Act III, Scene II, 

Synopsis — Act IV. — The Quarrel. 

Before Brutus' tent in the camp near Sardis. (Note In the interval between 

the fourth and fifth acts, Brutus learns of Portia's death — a blow to him which 
affects his every subsequent speech and action, and from which he never fully 
recovers.) Pindarus enters with a letter from his master, Cassius, which he delivers 
to Brutus. Brutus deplores Cassius' recent actions. Pindarus defends his master. 
Brutus questions Lucilius as to his reception by Cassius. Brutus charges the 
absent Cassius with loss of friendship and disloyalty — the very faults of which 
he himself was accused by Cassius in the first act. Arrival of Cassius and his 
troops. The meeting of the leaders. Brutus astonished but collected. The 
angry Cassius subdued. The reconciliation. Council of the generals. A plan 
of action agreed upon. Brutus left alone with Lucius who falls asleep playing 
an instrument. The apparition. 

** " Let's rest us here." — Julius Catsa? Act I', Scene I'. 



" Be patient till the last." — Julius Ccesar — Act III, Scene II. 

Synopsis — Act V. — The Battle of Philippi. 

The plains of Philippi in Macedonia. Conference of leaders of opposing 
forces. Mark Antony, Octavius Cssar and their troops, met by Brutus, Cassius 
and their army. Taunts and threats answered by accusations and defiance. 
Both armies retire to prepare for an advance. Brutus and Cassius take leave 
of each other. A long farewell. The field of battle. (Note. — Brutus and 
Cassius had each raised separate armies so that now each commanded what 
might be called a wing of the joint army.) Octavius' troops totally routed by 
Brutus. Cassius' army overpowered by Antony's forces. The victorious shouts 
of Brutus' soldiers misconstrued by Cassius. Death of Cassius and Brutus. 
Antony's prophecy fulfilled. Nobleness of Brutus' character vouched for by 
his enemy. 

"I thank you for your pains and courtesy." — Julius Ceesar ~ Act II, Scene II. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Mr. Hannibal A. Williams was born in Rutland, Vermont, in 1S54, and is a 
descendant of French and English parentage. He was educated in the common 
schools of his native state, and at Troy Conference Academy, Poultney, Vermont. 
After teaching several years in the graded schools of Fair Haven and West Rutland. 
Vermont, and making a professional tour through New England, he was appointed 
Instructor of Elocution in the Albany (New York) Academy, which position he re- 
signed in 1882 to devote himself entirely to public reading. During the first three 
years of Mr. Williams' professional career, his work consisted of the preparation 
of miscellaneous selections and the giving of over three hundred entertainments in 
towns near Albany. Since 1S85 he has resided in New York, 98 Lexington Avenue, 
and each year he has added one of Shakespeare's plays to his repertory. He has 
read ove7' one thousand nights, chiefly in the New England and Middle States. For 
the past two seasons his recitals have been limited strictly to the Shakespearian 
plays, in which field probably no other American reader has achieved so large a 
measure of success in so short a period. 

EXTRACTS FROM AUTOGRAPH LETTERS FROM DISTINGUISHED LITERARY 
GENTLEMEN COMMENDING MR. WILLIAMS' WORK: 

President H. E. Webster, LL.D., President Union University: 

I congratulate myself on having been able to hear your recital of "The Taming of the Shrew." From 
beginning to end I was pleased, I may say delighted, with the facility and skill shown in your rendition of 
this comedy. 

— 13 — 



Rev. Robert S. Mac Arthur, D.D., Calvary Baptist Church, New York 



Permit me to express the pleasure which I enjoyed in hearing you on a recent occasion in " The Taming 
of the Shrew." Your reading was marked by careful study and hearty appreciation of the thought, and 
also by distinctness and naturalness of utterance. Your explanatory remarks threw new light on the char- 
acters to be introduced and upon the play as a whole. Nothing was overdrawn and every character, as it 
seemed to me, received full justice. 

Rev. C. H. Parkhurst, D.D., Pastor Madison Square Presbyterian Church, 
New York : 

I was able to attend but one of the recitals recently given by you in this city, but was present at your 
rendering of " Julius Cssar '' and was delighted. 

Rev. Morgan Dix, S. T. D., D. C. L., Rector Trinity Episcopal Church, New 
York: 

I could not get to even one of your recitals. The hour was one at which it was impossible for me to get 
off from professional duties. I sent tickets to my friends, many of whom went, and from several of them I 
have had expressions of great pleasure and satisfaction. 

Mr. Alfred Ayres, author of "The Orthoepist," "The Verbalist," etc., in the 
"New York Dramatic Mirror": 

Hannibal A. Williams, who on Saturday last completed a short course of Shakespearian readings, is the 
most pleasing reader of Shakespeare we Itave seen on the platform for some years. Mr. Williams is thor- 
oughly legitimate in his methods and while he is never guilty of over-doing, on the other hand, his nice sense 
of the proper never allows him to degenerate into the commonplace. He was frequently applauded by his 
large and very fashionable audiences, but what is better evidence tliat he pleased is the fact that it was 
rarely that any of his auditors left till the last line was spoken. He has but to become better known to be 
the fashion with the frequenters of afternoon recitals. 



THE * NEW * WEBSTER S * DICTIONARY. 

JUST PUBLISHED- ENTIRELY NEW. 



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" 'Tis time to part." 
There is no more to say? no 



—Julius Ccesa7 Act II, Scene I. 

Good niglit ! " — Julius Ca;sa-> — Act IV, Scene III. 



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